The roster renovation remains fluid. Obviously, the New Orleans Pelicans cannot be finished with the re-making of their team for the upcoming season, though the team has taken steps to upgrade at least one major area of need.

In a day or so, when the NBA signs off on the three-team trade that will ultimately bring center Omer Asik into the fold, the Pelicans will have solidified the primary interior of its defense and hopefully provided a complementary piece that will help contribute to the continued growth in Anthony Davis' abundant skills.

The Pelicans continue to attempt to fill the other glaring weakness by bargain-basement means with the revelation small forward Omri Casspi, who was reportedly coming to New Orleans in the Asik deal, will be released.

Not that Casspi would have been the panacea, but waiving Casspi leaves New Orleans banking on the possible NBA comeback of small forward Josh Howard, or others, to fill the gap at a position the teams clearly needs to upgrade.

Perhaps it will be veteran John Salmons, 34, who signed a one-year deal with the Pelicans on Monday. It's an interesting pickup since Salmons has historically torched New Orleans in the past and is a dogged defender.

He's also a discount-rack acquisition.

Before leaving for the Las Vegas Summer League last week, assistant coach Bryan Gates spoke plainly about the attributes for which the Pelicans were searching in a small forward.

"We understand what we need at that position," Gates said. "So we've explained it to the guys: defend your position. I think people get a little (confused) that you need a three who can guard Kevin Durant and LeBron. Well, that's what makes them Kevin Durant and LeBron.

"Just the three in our division, Tayshaun Prince, Chandler Parsons, Kawhi Leonard . . . . that's a tough position, in general, let alone just in our conference. And you've got to be able to make an open shot. Make an open shot and guard your position and not with everybody helping And you've got to rebound at that position. Al-Farouq Aminu, one thing he really did, they have all the analytics, I think he was first in the league in rebounding at that position, especially defensive rebounding. We've explained it to those guys. There's no secret behind it."

Gates couldn't break down the optimal percentage split on how the Pelicans would like to see the position handled.

"If there's a 100 percent thing? You better be able to guard your position," Gates said. "There's no doubt in that. You need to guard."

Can Howard, a one-time All-Star and current D-League reclamation project, provide the answer on a veteran's minimum contract?

His Summer League audition will likely provide an answer. Same for Courtney Fells or James Southerland.

All three players would come at a modest price. It's a no-risk, possible-reward scenario.

And without being able to get out from under the weight of Eric Gordon's salary, the Pelicans remain financially strapped. All that's left to spend is a $2.7 million room exception and minimum contracts.

It took general manager Dell Demps nearly three weeks to gather the necessary financial assets from outside his roster – namely Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson – to add with the contract of Melvin Ely to clear enough space to add Asik while, at this point, retaining other pieces such as Austin Rivers, who couldn't be moved in the hours leading up to the NBA draft or in the days following.

If the plan all along was to retain proven commodities such as Rivers and acquire the requisite paper to swap out making room for Asik, then it's mission accomplished.

But there remain questions about how this team is coming together.

Brian Roberts, the team's primary backup point guard, is gone, as is Anthony Morrow, one of the league's best 3-point shooters a year ago.

Luke Babbitt was initially supposed to be part of the Summer League squad but was removed from the roster, an indication that his future here could be untenable.

The team seems ready to go with rookie Russ Smith as a backup point guard.

With Asik on the way, his addition will give the Pelicans three centers on the roster: Asik, Alexis Ajinca and Jeff Withey. There's also rookie swingman Patric Young.

He's due $15 million this year on a back-loaded deal he signed with the Houston Rockets, and though Asik only counts $8.4 million against the cap, it could take more than $8.4 annually to appease him after this year.

The No. 1 draft pick the Pelicans sent to the Rockets in the deal is better protected than this year's pick that went to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Jrue Holiday trade.

But the transaction, along with the likelihood that the team will find its small forward among the veteran parts of the current Summer League team, leaves no doubt that New Orleans is in a win-now mode.

Demps said as much on draft night when asked about the recent philosophy of trading out of the draft to acquire veteran talent.

"We evaluate situations, we evaluate fits, we evaluate timelines," Demps said. "I think one of the things that's going on in the draft now is that the players are coming in younger. And obviously if you get a superstar, he's more likely ready. But a lot of times it's taking two or three years for these guys to impact winning.

"The question, is do you want to go on that path or do want the proven player? We evaluate all of that. Last year, I thought Jeff Withey was really on that track to helping us impact winning moving forward. But how many of those guys do you want on your roster? That's a decision we think about and discuss. And so if we get an opportunity to get someone who can help us, especially at a young age, we really look to do that."